LONDON, Ont. — A man killed a woman, then killed himself in what police now confirm was a “domestic-related” murder-suicide before the long weekend.

Police have refused to confirm who died, or how, citing family members’ wish for privacy.

“This is a domestic-related incident. A male killed a female, and then took his own life,” Insp. Kevin Heslop said Tuesday. “We’ve got the family here, and they are grieving. Obviously, this is the worst imaginable scenario. They don’t want the names to be made public.”

The deaths came to light at 5:31 p.m. Friday, when police were called to check the welfare of residents in an apartment at 71 Grand Ave., in London and found a woman dead inside.

Three hours later, officers found the body of a man at an auto repair shop about five blocks away.

“We feel we have a strong obligation to the family as well as the community,” Heslop said. “We are providing some information to put context to what occurred. But we are drawing a line and saying that going beyond this line is an invasion of privacy.”

A spokesperson at the London Muslim Mosque said “funerals are being processed,” but he wouldn’t provide information about the couple or the circumstances behind the case.

At the auto shop, Miriam Tire & Auto Repair, the sole employee — owner Mahmoud Abdulrahim — hasn’t been seen since before the body was found at the garage.

The shop was closed all weekend, but a sign on the door Tuesday said it would reopen Wednesday.

Abdulrahim has a reputation as friendly and hard-working. Originally from Syria, he arrived in Canada many years ago and opened the business four years ago, neighbours said.

While those who spoke to the Free Press didn’t know his wife’s name, some said they’d seen her occasionally working at the shop and that she did not appear to speak English.